LONG TAIL GENETICS

[nchls school]

A number of years ago I got some Yokohama and Phoenix chicks as I've wanted long tail chickens for many years. I was very disappointed in the chicks as they were weak and frail. I did manage to raise a few of these chicks, but most died within a few weeks. When the few that lived matured I decided to try some crosses with serama bantam and white crested black Polish. From this cross I picked the most promising roosters to pair back to the pure stock. I've repeated this process three times and yesterday my fourth generation chicks hatched. The cross has produced very healthy active chicks and some unique colors. Below is my third generation rooster whos tail is sill growing. Of course, I'm wondering about the tail length of the new fourth generation. Am I wrong in believing the all cockerels will have long tails when mature??

 

[Henry&Friends]

I’m not sure, but you’ve bred some handsome boys!

 

[CatWhisperer]

Where did you get your original breeding stock that produced such weak chicks?

 

[nchls school]

The chicks were a present from my wife; somewhere in Kentucky; I think.

 

[nchls school]

I’m not sure, but you’ve bred some handsome boys!

Thank you. I think so.

 

[Amer]

Nope. All should have long tails if they have a least one pure parent.

 

[nchls school]

Nope. All should have long tails if they have a least one pure parent.

Thank you. This is what I thought. With each generation, one parent was pure stock for long tail.

 

[nchls school]

Phoenix and Yokohama with 17 chicks. Some are 1/8th Polish and 7/8ths Phoenix and some are 7/8ths Yokohama and 1/8 Polish. 1/2+- are black and white showing the Polish coloration and 1/2+- are striped like Phoenix chicks; and a single chick is a mottled grey showing a blending of colors.

And doesn't everyone use the bathtub as a brooder??

 

[nchls school]

Another question-How many generations of crossing back to pure birds before the cross birds will no longer throw short tail chicks? Below is what the four generations were.

1st generation-pure Phoenix hen to pure Polish rooster
2nd generation-pure Phoenix hen to 1/2 Polish 1/2 Phoenix rooster
3rd generation-pure Phoenix hen to 3/4 Phoenix 1/4 Polish rooster
So my fourth generation chicks are 7/8 Phoenix and 1/8 Polish rooster
I plan on picking the best of the cockerels from the fourth generation chicks and pairing back to a pure Phoenix hen again. But at what point can I pair cross birds together and get 100% long tail birds?

 

[Amer]

Another question-How many generations of crossing back to pure birds before the cross birds will no longer throw short tail chicks? Below is what the four generations were.

1st generation-pure Phoenix hen to pure Polish rooster
2nd generation-pure Phoenix hen to 1/2 Polish 1/2 Phoenix rooster
3rd generation-pure Phoenix hen to 3/4 Phoenix 1/4 Polish rooster
So my fourth generation chicks are 7/8 Phoenix and 1/8 Polish rooster
I plan on picking the best of the cockerels from the fourth generation chicks and pairing back to a pure Phoenix hen again. But at what point can I pair cross birds together and get 100% long tail birds?

By test breeding a rooster with a non-longtail tail hen you can find whether it is heterozygous or not. If he produces short tail male offspring, he is heterozygous. Chances are they will by homozygous, but the hens make it harder to tell. If they throw short tails, then both parents are to blame.